Vice President Leni Robredo is calling on the Sandiganbayan to “correct” the “mistake” of allowing former first lady Imelda Marcos to post bail, after being convicted of graft.

Robredo said it was “saddening” that the widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was allowed to walk free after the conviction, and allowed to post a P150,000 bail while her camp’s motion for leave of court.

Senator Nancy Binay disproved former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s claim that no critics were arrested during late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law, saying that her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, was among those arrested.

Senator Nancy Binay disproved former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s claim that no critics were arrested during late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law, saying that her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, was among those arrested.

After the overthrow of Marcos through the 1986 People Power uprising, Jejomar was appointed as Makati City mayor by then-President Cory Aquino and was in and out of the post until his election as vice president in 2010.

Jejomar and Enrile would find themselves in the same side of the political fence in 2013, when they formed the United Nationalist Alliance in time for the senatorial elections.

While acknowledging that the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos saw human rights violations, the weakening of the economy and the bloating of national debt, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said all opinions about martial law should be respected.

While acknowledging that the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos saw human rights violations, the weakening of the economy and the bloating of national debt, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said all opinions about martial law should be respected.

Angara was asked about recent statements made by former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile in a one-on-one with former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., where he denied that critics were arrests and killed under martial law.

Angara, his father Edgardo who worked as counsel for some Marcos cronies, and Enrile all hail from the University of the Philippines’ Sigma Rho fraternity.

It is a fact recognized under the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act or Republic Act No. 10368 that there “were victims of summary execution, torture, enforced or involuntary disappearance and other gross human rights violations” under the Marcos regime.

While Angara said that these would never be forgotten despite attempts at revisionism, he also said that the Marcos era should be taken with a “balanced” view.

“So may unting achievements ‘din, pero ibabalanse natin siyempre ‘yun, the good and the bad,” he continued.

Angara is eyeing for re-election in the 2019 polls and is listed as one of the senatorial candidates endorsed by regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, alongside Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, daughter of Ferdinand.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III debunked claims made by former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile that no critic was arrested during the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying that his father, former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. was arrested four times.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III debunked claims made by former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile that no critic was arrested during the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying that his father, former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. was arrested four times.

Koko said over radio dwIZ Saturday (September 22) that his father Nene was jailed in Camp Crame in Quezon City, in Bicutan, Parañaque, in Cebu and in Cagayan de Oro during the Marcos years.

A Hawaii court recognized this and ruled in favor of around 10,000 Filipino human rights victims who sued the Marcoses for $2 billion in damages. This was affirmed by the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1995 and the Supreme Court in 2003.

The Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act or Republic Act No. 10368 also recognizes that there “were victims of summary execution, torture, enforced or involuntary disappearance and other gross human rights violations” under the Marcos regime.

Under RA 10368, human rights violations include warrantless arrests carried out pursuant to Marcos’ declaration of martial law and his other similar issuances.

The law also established the Human Rights Victims Claims Board, which has listed 11,103 people who were victims of human rights violations under Marcos’ rule who would receive around P180,000 to P1.7 million in compensation.

RA 10368 also mandated the creation of a memorial, museum or a library in honor of the human rights victims under Marcos’ martial rule.

The Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission has inked a memorandum of agreement with the University of the Philippines for a museum to rise in time for the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in 2022 inside the Diliman campus.

A priest said he is “disturbed” that the color yellow, popularly linked with the formerly ruling Liberal Party, is “being dragged in the mud of partisan politics.”

Msgr. Gerry Santos, who celebrated Mass for the 35th death anniversary of former Senator Ninoy Aquino attended by prominent opposition politikos including former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, said “yellow,” which he noted previously represented the “veterans” of the 1986 People Power uprising, now clash with “reds,” or those supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“What disturbs me is that the color yellow has been dragged in the mud of partisan politics. Ang dilawan laban sa mga pulahan,” Santos said in his homily Tuesday (August 21).

Santos, who called himself a People Power veteran, is also disturbed that some of his fellow veterans on Edsa in 1986 who wore yellow then have “compromised the ideals of Edsa,” “given in to corruption,” and “compromised ourselves to cowardice and ineptitude.”

Duterte himself has added fuel to the fire of the burning battle between “dilawans” and “pulahans,” repeatedly scoring the “yellows” in speeches.

In a recent speech, the President even said the “yellows” have “melted.”

But Santos, speaking to a crowd of yellow-shirted people, said he wants the color yellow’s “vigor and strength” to remain, noting that it “symbolizes a noble people. A great race of courage and freedom, peace and active nonviolence.”

The priest, who previously headed the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, also said history should not be allowed “to be changed and to be rewritten by the powers that be today and rejected moves to revise the 1987 Constitution which was ratified a year after the People Power uprising which ousted the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“Let’s usher the lessons of martial law. Martial law was oppressive. Never again to martial law!” Santos said.

“No to charter change. Philippine Constitution of 1987 is a product of People Power 1986. Let us never forget history,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly knows his plan to shift to a federal form of government will make several regions poorer, but he still wants it to push through to gain more power, former senator Francisco "Kit" Tatad has claimed.

President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly knows his plan to shift to a federal form of government will make several regions poorer, but he still wants it to push through to gain more power, former senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad has claimed.

In his July 20 column for the Manila Times, Tatad said Duterte wants the Philippines to become a federal country so he could gain more power than the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

A businessman who is able to talk to DU30 has told me that the President himself knows this particular math, and has no illusions about the viability of his federalism project,” the former senator said.

“DU30 is reportedly more interested in dismantling the present system and putting himself in charge of the ‘Transitory Provision’ which would give him more powers than Marcos ever had under the 1976 amendments. These included concurrent legislative powers, which allowed him to issue presidential decrees even while Congress was working on a particular statute,” Tatad added.

Duterte has been pushing for federalism since he ran in the 2016 polls, saying it will allow regions to develop faster and devolve power from Manila.

He formed a Consultative Committee (Con Com) to draft a new Constitution for the proposed federal government.

The draft federal Constitution will be considered by Congress should it convene into a constituent assembly (Con Ass) to propose changes to the 1987 Constitution.

Tatad called Duterte’s push for federalism “completely idiotic” because it will cut up the Philippines into 18 separate regions.

“Not only is it conceptually and intellectually indefensible; there is also no way of making sure the 18 regions will survive the fragmentation. Sixty-seven percent of the national income comes from only three of the 18 regions,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has surpassed the record set by his idol, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, when it comes the number of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), according to the United States-based think tank East West Center.

President Rodrigo Duterte has surpassed the record set by his idol, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, when it comes the number of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), according to the United States-based think tank East West Center.

The article, posted Friday (March 2), quoted human rights advocates as saying that more than 12,000 have died as a result of the EJKs conducted in relation to Duterte’s war on drugs.

By comparison, the study said that only 3,257 incidents of EJKs have been recorded under the 10-year Marcos regime.

Despite the President’s use of force in going after drug traders and users, the East West Center noted: Yet, there is no clear evidence that drug trafficking under Duterte has declined.”

Duterte has defended the killing of drug suspects, saying policemen were only forced to shoot them when they fight back. He also vowed to protect cops should they face legal action over their anti-drug operations.

Almost two years after Duterte assumed office, the East West Center also raised doubts on whether the President can fulfill his promise of improving the peace and order situation in the country.

“It is questionable, however, how effective a national leader Duterte has been in almost two years in office,” it said.

Solicitor General Jose Calida has expressed openness in arriving at a compromise deal with the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos regarding their ill-gotten wealth.

In an interview over CNN Philippines’ “The Source” Thursday (January 11), Calida said he will consider a “fair” compromise agreement with the Marcoses.

“Well, lawyers who have been practicing for quite some time would rather have a compromise than have a litigation that will run for several decades as what happened in the PCGG (Presidential Commission on Good Government),” he said.

“If there’s a fair compromise agreement and there are no laws that are broken, we will consider that. Because it’s better to have the cake rather than lose it,” Calida added.

An abogado claiming to represent the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos has drafted a compromise agreement with the aim of having the cases against them dropped.

According to a six-page draft of the agreement making the rounds online, a yet unspecified percentage of the properties sequestered from the Marcos family will be “shared” with the government.

In return, the government will lift the executive order of sequestration and pending cases against the Marcoses will be disposed of “strictly in accordance with due process and speedy trial s mandated by the Constitution, Rules of Court and Supreme Court circulars.”

Lozano proposed three methods to formalize the agreement: a deal without congressional imprimatur, one with lawmakers’ nod or the acceptance of the donation from the Marcoses.

The abogado, formerly a legal counsel of the late President Marcos, suggested that Duterte “take appropriate action” on the proposed compromise agreement given the “serious political, social and economic problems” affecting the country.

Lozano said the government can use the Marcoses’ wealth “to promptly give unifying Social Justice for All through Massive Rehabilitation as well as enable the government to pay its foreign and local debts leading to ‘political liberation, economic emancipation and social concord.'”

The Marcoses were accused of amassing between 5 billion to 10 billion dollars of ill gotten wealth throughout the dictator’s more than two-decade rule.

However, Lozano noted that the properties sequestered from the Marcoses were not “judicially decided as ill gotten.”

Did the Marcoses change the birth year of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as part of their efforts to rewrite history?

Ateneo de Manila University history professor Ambeth Ocampo said the centennial of Marcos’ birthday should have been marked in 2016 since he was born in 1916, based on documents from the Ilocos Norte registry of births.

As such, Ocampo said the commemorative stamp issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation this year to mark the late dictator’s centennial birth year was “a tad inaccurate” since he would’ve turned 101 years old.

“Someone should check this up with the National Statistics Office, for historians to know if his 1916 birth year was altered to have all milestones in his life contain his lucky number ‘7,’” Ocampo said in his November 17 column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The Marcoses held several events in Ilocos Norte in the days leading to September 11 to mark the supposed centennial of Marcos’ birth.

President Rodrigo Duterte also issued Proclamation No. 310 declaring September 11 a holiday in Ilocos Norte.

A group promising supporters of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos P10,000 monthly for the next four years has been beefing up its ranks with the help of a pamphlet distributed shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte came to power.

A group promising supporters of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos P10,000 monthly for the next four years has been beefing up its ranks with the help of a pamphlet distributed shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte came to power.

According to a report contributed by VERA Files writer Joel Ariate Jr. for the Philippine Daily Inquirer Monday (September 25), the Bullion Buyer Ltd. (BBL) has been enticing gullible Filipinos to buy a pamphlet on Marcos’ life and achievements for P30.

The pamphlet, the group said, will be the member’s ticket to a share of Marcos’ wealth.

While BBL was reportedly founded in 2011, Ariate said the group only began selling the pamphlet in 2016, when Duterte was already President.

“The preface in the pamphlet says, ‘Can we blame President Marcos in declaring martial law? He only needs peace of mind in the same manner as President Duterte so that he can do all his good plans for the Filipino people.’

“‘Can we now blame President Duterte if he declares martial law . . . if that is the only way in order to achieve peace, unity and prosperity?'” the pamphlet adds.

BBL is founded by Emmanuel Destura and Felicisima Cantos, who have both gone into hiding after a charge of syndicated estafa was filed against them in 2013.

BBL’s racket made the headlines after hundreds of Marcos loyalists trooped to the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños on September 23 in hopes of getting their first P10,000 as share of Marcos’ wealth.

Thousands of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's critics and supporters held rival rallies Thursday, taking emotional national debates over his deadly drug war and martial-law threats to the streets.

Thousands of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s critics and supporters held rival rallies Thursday, taking emotional national debates over his deadly drug war and martial-law threats to the streets.

Police in battle gear kept order as at least 8,000 protesters held a series of rallies across Manila, using the 45th anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposing martial law to warn that Duterte was equally violent and authoritarian.

“Our country is turning into a graveyard. People are getting killed everyday and we bury the dead everyday, just like in the time of Marcos,” anti-Duterte protest leader Pedro Gonzales told AFP.

But supporters of Duterte also turned up in large numbers, reflecting his popularity with many Filipinos who see him as a charismatic, anti-establishment politician who is their best chance to quell crime and corruption.

Duterte vowed in last year’s election campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing up to 100,000 traffickers and addicts.

Since he assumed office 15 months ago police have reported killing more than 3,800 people in anti-drug operations.

The crackdown has triggered wider violence with thousands of other people being murdered in unexplained circumstances that rights groups partly attribute to vigilante death squads.

– ‘Stop the killings’ –

Waving banners that said “No to Martial Law” and “Stop the Killings”, Gonzales and about 300 other protesters burnt a poster that said “Fascist” over pictures of Duterte and Marcos outside the Philippine military headquarters.

Duterte considers Marcos the country’s “best” leader ever and has repeatedly threatened to impose martial law as a solution to the Philippines’ woes.

Police said thousands of anti-Duterte protesters later gathered outside Malacanang presidential palace before moving to a Manila park for their final rally, which was attended by some 8,000 people.

The protesters were backed by the political opposition and leaders of the Catholic Church, the Asian country’s dominant religion, signalling rising opposition to Duterte.

Many of the personalities and institutions in this camp are also identified with the bloodless “People Power” revolution that ended Marcos’ 20-year rule in 1986.

Vice President Leni Robredo and Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, both critics of the incumbent leader, attended a separate mass for the drug war dead Thursday.

“Around us, the culture of violence is on the rise. The victims of this culture of violence are not only those who oppose the government, but everyone else, including children,” Robredo said in a speech.

“The good part of this is there are so many people concerned, from different ages,” Aquino told reporters.

– ‘Stand up’ –

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, denounced the drug killings at another mass Thursday, saying Catholics must “do more” than lighting candles for the dead and helping orphans.

“Stand up. To keep quiet in the face of evil is a sin,” he said.

A pro-Duterte rally attended by 16,000 people was held in front of a Catholic church just over a kilometre (0.6-mile) away, while about 3,000 supporters of the president also gathered near the presidential palace, police said.

They were entertained by local film and television stars gyrating to raunchy songs on a stage dominated by a large image of Duterte and the words “Let Change Continue”, referencing his election campaign slogan “Change is Coming”.

The family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos invited President Rodrigo Duterte to attend the commemoration of his 100th birthday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani but the invitation didn't reach him, according to a September 11 report by the Philippine Star.

The family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos invited President Rodrigo Duterte to attend the commemoration of his 100th birthday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani but the invitation didn’t reach him, according to a September 11 report by the Philippine Star.

Sources told reporter Edith Regalado that the invitation sent by former First Lady Imelda Marcos didn’t reach Duterte, while another source close to the President said he wasn’t invited in the first place.

Invitations were reportedly sent to politikos and foreign dignitaries.

Regardless of whether the invitation reached Duterte, he will not attend the commemoration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani today.

The President is in Davao City and is expected to fly to Manila tonight.

According to the invitation, a mass will be held for the late dictator’s birthday, to be followed by a short program and lunch.

Despite skipping the commemoration, Duterte declared September 11 a special non-working day in Ilocos Norte for Marcos’ 100th birthday.

President Rodrigo Duterte effectively quashed speculation he will attend the centennial birthday bash of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos on September 11 by choosing to stay in Davao City on that day.

President Rodrigo Duterte effectively quashed speculation he will attend the centennial birthday bash of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos on September 11 by choosing to stay in Davao City on that day.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Friday (September 8) confirmed that Duterte will be in Davao when the Marcos family holds a celebration for the former President at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The camp of former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos has sent invitations to politikos for the commemoration of her husband’s 100th birth anniversary. It is unknown whether Duterte, who backed the late strongman’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, was also invited.

According to the invitation, a mass will be held at 9:30 in the morning, to be followed by a short program and lunch.

Duterte has declared September 11 a special non-working day in Ilocos Norte in commemoration of Marcos’ birth anniversary.

Robredo issued the comment after President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos said they were willing to “open everything and hopefully return” some of their wealth to the government.

The President, who was quoting an emissary of the Marcoses, added that the political family might only give back ill-gotten wealth in exchange for immunity.

Robredo believed the Marcoses just wanted to legal repercussions in cases involving the $10 billion the family looted during President Ferdinand Marcos’ 21 years in office.

The recovery of ill-gotten wealth amassed by the Marcoses and their cronies is a mandate of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), which was created after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

Duterte said an emissary of the Marcoses have talked to him to relay their willingness to return some of their wealth, including a few gold bars.

Citing information from the unnamed emissary, the President said the Marcos patriarch only amassed the wealth for the country’s sake because there was a time when the economy faced tough times under his rule.

The family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos claimed he amassed billions of pesos in public funds during his rule as a way of protecting the Philippine economy, President Rodrigo Duterte said.

In a speech at the oathtaking of new public officials in Malacanang Tuesday (August 29), Duterte said the Marcoses gave a noble reason for their patriarch’s theft.

“And the only reason really was sabi nila, that the father was protecting the economy. Now, of course, the eventual kung maalis siya. But he was thought of regaining the Malacañan and that is why ganito ang lumabas. Parang naitago,” he said.

Duterte said the Marcoses have expressed willingness to return some of the ill-gotten wealth they amassed.

The Duterte administration's efforts in recovering the multibillion-dollar ill-gotten wealth stolen by the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos leaves much to be desired, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The Duterte administration’s efforts in recovering the multibillion-dollar ill-gotten wealth stolen by the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos leaves much to be desired, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

Results of the second quarter survey, which was first published in Business World Tuesday (August 29), showed that satisfaction with the government’s efforts to recover the Marcoses wealth stood at only a “moderate” +26.

SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of at least +70 as “excellent”; +50 to +69 as “very good; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”; +9 to –9, “neutral”; -10 to –29, “poor”; -30 to –49, “bad”; -50 to –69, “very bad”; as well as –70 and below as “execrable.”

The SWS survey was conducted from June 23 to 26 with 1,200 respondents nationwide. It has a margin of error of ±3 points for national percentages and ±6 points for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Duterte has seemingly distanced himself from the Marcoses since fulfilling his campaign promise of burying the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

On Monday (August 28), the President immediately walked past the former President’s daughter, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, after greeting her at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for a ceremony to mark the National Heroes’ Day.

Imee lost the chance to linger longer with the President since she was whisked away to the side by members of the Presidential Security Group.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's government plans to abolish the agency tasked with recovering the billions of dollars plundered by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his allies, a cabinet member said Wednesday.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s government plans to abolish the agency tasked with recovering the billions of dollars plundered by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his allies, a cabinet member said Wednesday.

The announcement was the latest development in the remarkable political rehabilitation of the Marcos clan, which has accelerated since family ally Duterte became president last year.

“They don’t do anything. What do they do?” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said as he told reporters the government planned to scrap the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

The PCGG was set up three decades ago, just after a bloodless “People Power” revolt toppled Marcos, to recover the estimated $10 billion looted by the dictator and his allies during his 20 years in power which were marked by massive corruption and abuse.

The agency has since recovered 170 billion pesos or about $3.4 billion in ill-gotten wealth as well as jewellery, art and other assets.

But it is still working to find millions more, including 200 pieces of art by masters like Michelangelo and Picasso, alleged to have been purchased by the Marcos family.

Jean Enriquez, spokeswoman of iDEFEND, a human rights coalition, expressed shock at the announcement, saying “this is really a huge blow to human rights groups especially those who have been against the Marcos dictatorship.”

“This administration seeks to absolve the Marcoses from their responsibility to the Filipino people,” she said, recalling the strong ties between Duterte and the Marcos family.

Despite the death of the dictator in exile in Hawaii in 1989, his family has been making a political comeback in the Philippines with his widow, Imelda, and their children getting elected to office.

Duterte has openly supported the Marcos family, cheering on the Marcos son, Ferdinand Jr, in his failed bid for the vice-presidency last year. The Marcos family is known to be grooming him for the presidency as well.

In November, Duterte stunned the nation by allowing the body of the late dictator to be buried in the national “Heroes’ Cemetery” despite a widespread outcry that his abuses and corruption exempted him from such an honour.

Although a law would be required to abolish the PCGG, Diokno said the Duterte administration was drafting a bill allowing it to do away with government offices like the commission as part of a streamlining process.

Diokno expressed confidence the bill would be passed as key leaders of Congress, controlled by Duterte allies, have declared their support.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to hold “simple, quiet” commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution on February 25 was fraught with “danger” considering his efforts to sanitize the dark legacy of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to hold “simple, quiet” commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution on February 25 was fraught with “danger” considering his efforts to sanitize the dark legacy of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

In a statement, Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said: “The current regime said it has opted for simpler rites but apparently wants to mute the lessons of the struggle against the dictatorship in favor of looking towards the future. This is particularly dangerous today when there are real efforts to rehabilitate the Marcoses and pave the way for their eventual return to Malacanang.”

Reyes said celebrating People Power today has become necessary to “pay tribute to the Filipino people, the real heroes who mobilized and waged a long and determined struggle, both legal and armed, to oust the dictator Marcos.”

Duterte’s decision allowing the burial of Marcos’ remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani last after November after a 27-year long wait which Reyes considered as part of “ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the Marcoses and revise history.”

What has irked the militant group the most was Malacanang’s decision to hold the People Power celebration inside Camp Aguinaldo which Reyes noted was “the headquarters of the AFP which is currently waging all-out war against the people.”

Palace Spokesperson Ernie Abella defended the simple celebration of EDSA People Power as it was “time to move on from just celebrating the past, remembering the past.” “The emphasis has shifted. It is no longer a celebration of the past. It is now a reflection on what can happen in the future. It is a moving on from those things,” said Abella.

Bayan and CARMMA (the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacanang) are holding a “People’s Commemoration” on EDSA as an alternative to Malacanang’s muted celebration.

“Our protest calls on the people to resist intensifying fascist repression and state-sponsored all-out war, while pushing for the revival of the peace talks that seek to address the roots of the armed conflict. We will march along EDSA and demand genuine change, including the change supposedly promised by Duterte which he has yet to fulfill,” said Reyes.